Reed-organ swell



A. G. LUNDQUXST AND K. I. A. l0NSON-- REED ORGAN SWELL- APPLICATION FILED 0012a, 1920.

1,415,665, Patented May 9, 1922.

i NIT no s'T E AND R G TA L NDQUIST AND ARL. Joann ALGOT, JONSQN,

Parent or Free.

Or sTooKHoLM;

S EDEN, ASSIGNQRS, mo AKT'IEBQLAGET sKANnINAvIsKa QBGEL-OCH PIANO- rABRIKnnor STOGKHOLM, swnnnn, A conrona'rro v.

lciaeea To all whom it may concern:

Be ittrknown that we, .AN'DERS GUsTAr LUNDQUIST and KARI; JoHAN ALGOT JoNsoN, bot-h subjects of: theiKing of Sweden, and residing at Stockholm, Sweden, have. invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reed-Organ Swells, of which the following is a specification l I i This invention relates to organs and like musical instruments, and has for its purpose to provide means for facilitating :a slow and continuous variation ofthe volume=of the tone (crescendo and diminuendo). In small organs this was heretofore eflectedin a most imperfect manner by means of a contrivance resembling in construction a common mute.

by means of which the quantity of the air admitted to the reeds is varied. Such mutes do not allow of a slow increase of the air flowing in. According to the present invention, slow and continuous variation of the volume of the tone is obtained. by forming the valve members like shutters or the like which are slidably arranged over the airports, and by the movement of which the,

said air-ports may be gradually exposedor shut up. The contrlvance 1s preferably so arranged that each shutter will control a plurality of elongated tapering apertures arranged in one or more rows in such a manner that the various apertures extend in the direction of movement of the shutter, the latter being provided with a corresponding number of air-ports, preferably formed in the same way, which air-ports are gradually brought to register with the first-mentioned apertures when the shutter is being displaced.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view, and Fig. 2 a cross section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, of a reed boardfor a chamber-organ provided with a co-ntrivance according to the invention. i The reed board, the bottom 1 of -whic forms the cover of a wind-chest 2, comprises a wooden board 3 provided with transversal,

horizontal air-passages l opening at the stepped edgesof the board 3, and communicating at their inner ends with vertical channels 5 which,in turn are in communication with the wind-chest in which vacuum REED-ORGAN. SWELL.

Patented May .9, 1922 Application filed October 28, 1920. Seria1"No.420,305. v (I is produced l in known manner by actuating I either side of the tone box not only by the said flaps 9, but also by a swell 10 the socalled forte-swell, adaptedto swing on the hinge 22, and the forte-swells coactwith the walls 11 arranged at the ends of the reed board to form a casing which surrounds the mouth of the passages 41. The admission of the air is controlled according to the invention by means of slides or shutters 13 guided by guiding-members 12, the said shutters normallyclosing a plurality of air ports 14 arranged in two rows and in zig zag with respect to each other, which open ings are of an elongated shape,'tapering in the direction of movement of the slide or shutter. The slides 13 are provided with apertures 15 shaped and arranged in a similar manner, and adapted to gradually expose the openings 14 by a displacement of the slide, so as to slowly increase the total area of admission of the air.

The inner vertical channels 5 extend through the entire board 3, and theupper mouths thereof are covered by hinged flaps l6 actuated by the organ-stops. Arranged above each of the inner rows of vertical rhannelso are boxes or casings 17 provided with a singlerow of air-ports 18, which are norn'ially covered by slides or shutters 20 guided by guides 19, the saidslides-being provided with air-ports 21 of the same shape as the apertureslS in the covers.

, The slides orshutters 13 and 20 are connected by means of a suitable transmission arrangement (not shown in the drawin with an operating member inthe form of a lever, which is so arranged that it ,may be actuated by the knee or the foot of the player, and by means of which the slides may be displaced in the longitudinal direction to vary the volume of the tone in the manner hereinabove described.

In connection with the foregoing it is understood that slidable shutters have been provided with apertures for varying the volume of tone in organs. However, in this invention, the essential difference resides in the tapered shape of these apertures. EX- tensive experiments have been made to obtain a construction whereby the tone of the organ may be easily graduated within a wide range and it has been discovered that this is practically impossible when using round apertures, such apertures having practically the same effect as the usual pivotally mounted mutes. The graduation attained can only be effectively produced by the employment of elongated tapering apertures and this feature must therefore be considered very essential.

Vhat we clalm as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is l. A reed organ or the like instrument in. which the tongues are mounted within a casing provided with air-openings or apertures and one or more valve members adapted to control these apertures, the said valve members consisting of slidable shutters provided with a corresponding number of apertures which are gradually brought into registration with the first mentioned apertures when the shutter is displaced, the apertures tapering substantially to a point.

2. An arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein the apertures are arranged in zigzag in two or more rows.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two witnesses.

ANDERS GUSTAF LUNDQUIST, KARL JOHAN ALGOT JONSON.

Witnesses OSCAR GRAHN, LUNICO MEOLIN. 

